He brushed a kiss on Allie’s temple, still not quite believing what he’d found with her, or that she was his. This was happiness. He could still be back in Cuba, still searching, if he hadn’t relented… The move had been a long time in coming, his own resistance at the crux of it. How many years had he dragged his feet? How often had he brushed away his mother’s request? He knew now there was a reason for the delay and that reason was lying in his arms.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Wednesday came too quickly for Mateo.
They were just finishing up for the move to Sanford. There’d been a couple of shopping expeditions over the last few days to fill in his wardrobe. He’d purchased everything he’d needed for the snow and cold but was lacking some new things for the warmer weather they’d find in Florida. He thought maybe Allie had gone overboard, his suitcase overflowing with new tee shirts, dress shirts, cargo pants, shorts, collared shirts, belts, sandals, sneakers and sunglasses.
“I can’t get this closed.”
She’d been supervising the task while checking her phone as incoming texts and emails arrived. She’d been working almost round the clock since Sunday night, gearing up for the upcoming Grapefruit League exodus.
“Here, let me sit on it.”
She jumped up on the bag, almost losing her balance in the process, and he finally got the zipper closed. There were still clothes lying on his bed that he didn’t even bother trying to stuff in.
“Do I really need all of this?”
She shifted her eyes up and nodded. “There isn’t a dress code down there, so you’ll need clothes for hanging out and traveling in.”
“In Cuba, I made do with what I had.”
She slid off the bag and brushed his cheek with her hand.
“You don’t have to do that anymore.”
“Just because I have money doesn’t mean I have to spend it on things I don’t need.”
He thought it was her job to make sure he didn’t splurge on unnecessary things, but here he was, reining himself in. Frugality was just a part of his nature, honed through years of lack.
“You’ll need them, trust me. It’s my job to know.”
He didn’t respond. Her thumbs were busy again. The lightning speed with which she could text still amazed him. Once her fingers were still, she pointed. “You have another suitcase right there. There’s a two-bag limit. Use it.”
“But it will only be half-full.”
“I’ve got a few things that I wasn’t going to bring because they didn’t fit in mine. If you don’t mind sharing, I’ll just pack them in yours.”
He stopped complaining.
“Not at all. I like the thought of my clothes lying with yours.”
She put the phone down and came over to him.
“You do know we’ll have to keep our distance while we’re there.”
“Even though people know we’re a couple?”
He heard the critical tone in his voice, and it didn’t surprise him she gave him one of her exasperated stares.
“I don’t want to flaunt it.”
He hadn’t moved her an inch away from her decision even though they’d become a unit over the last few days. They did most everything together, whether it was shopping, visiting her mother one last time before their departure, gaming, watching television, sleeping in his bed. He smiled to himself. Calling it sleeping might be a bit of an exaggeration. They’d done very little of that.
Going for conciliatory, she said, “Let’s finish up. We have to be at the airport by noon.”
He went out to the family room while she added some of her things to his bag. He chuckled. It was no surprise that it was mostly shoes.
He’d taken up the controls of his gaming system and listened, her voice lilting out to where he sat. She tended to break into song at odd times, and he was beginning to understand that the one she chose had meaning in the moment. He didn’t know this tune, but the words were obvious. She kept repeating, we’re going to win, over and over. Either the lyrics were lacking in depth, or that’s all she cared to sing.
When she finally appeared, she was off-balance, with two suitcases in her hands.
He went over and grabbed them away from her. “I will take them.”
She’d taken full advantage of her two-bag limit.
“You can’t carry all four. Besides, I’ve done this every year since I got the job.”
“I cannot let you carry them. It goes against my—”
“Oh, no you don’t. Don’t you dare go all machismo on me.”
“You told me that I should help, not just sit around and let you do all the work. Which way do you want it?”
Her mouth twisted as she thought about it.
“Good question. I’ll have to think on it. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.
Her phone rang again, and she gave him a lop-sided smile before answering it.
“It’s Case. I still don’t know which way she’s leaning.”
“But we’re leaving today.”
He couldn’t believe she’d left the decision up in the air until now. Allie was more decisive. He always knew where she stood, even if he didn’t like where that was. It made it easier to trust her.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I told you it would be last minute.”
She swiped to answer but he was only privy to one side of the conversation. From what he was picking up though, Casey had decided to go.
When she ended the call, Allie’s eyes were bright, and she looked like a cat who’d swallowed a bunch of canaries, not just one.
“Casey’s on her way over.”
“Why?”
“Greg was still arguing about her need to go. I think she’s afraid she’ll cave if he
